Finishing projectiles



Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIZING ANDFINISHING PBO-IEC'I'ILES Anthony J. Langhammer, Detroit, Mlcln, alsignorto Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich a corporation of DelawareApplication October 20, 1938, SerialNo. 235,936

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for finishingand sizing projectiles. I

More specifically, the invention pertains to an improved method andapparatus of this kind which is particularly adapted for the sizing andfinishing of porous metal bullets having a substantial lubricantabsorbing capacity and comprising compressed and sintered powderedmetal.

One of the main objects of the invention is the provision of a highspeed production method and apparatus for sizing and finishing bullet ofthe foregoing character.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a method andapparatus of this kind by which the body, ojive and both extremities ofa projectile shaped blank can be simultaneously brought to desireddimensions and contour within close limits in a single operation whichalso produces a smooth external surface.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a method andapparatus of this character by which projectile blanks comprising porousmetal can be finished and shaped without destroying the porosity andlubricant absorbing and exuding capacity of the interior portions of theresulting product.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a projectilefinishing and sizing apparatus embodying the invention and by which theimproved finishing and sizing operation may be performed.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevational view showing a pair of die membersincluded in the apparatus arranged in close-fitting and registeringrelationship.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a projectile whichhas been finished and sized in accordance with the invention.

While the sizing and finishing apparatus illustrated in the drawing isparticularly adapted for the finishing and sizing of bullets comprisingporous metal formed of compressed and sintered powdered metal, it isapparent that the same may be employed to advantage in the finishing andsizing of projectiles and similar articles formed of diverse othermaterials. This apparatus includes a frame structure, generallydesignated by the numeral III, in which is provided a verticallyextending guide way H. A slide block I2 is reciprocably mounted in theguide way II and operatively connected by a link it with mechanism bywhich it is drivingly reciprocated. 5 This driving mechanism comprises acounterweighted crank arm l4 fixed to a shaft which is iournalled at IIon a bar It provided at the upper extremity of the frame structure II. Apulley l'l, non-rotatably fixed to the shaft, is drivingly 10 connectedby a belt I! with a motor I! mounted on a bracket 2. extending outwardlyfrom the frame structure It.

Fixed and movable die members 2| and 22 are carried by the slide blockI2 and frame structure It respectively. The movable die member 22 isdisposed in a recess 23 formed in the right lateral edge portions of theslide block l2 which protrudes forwardly, as viewed in Fig. 1, from theframe structure It, the die member 22 being fixed in position by bolts24. The die member 2| is adjustably secured to the frame structure illby bolts 25 extending through slots 2i formed in the die member. Thesedie members are so constructed and arranged as to have opposedregisterable sides 21 and 28 extending in the general direction oftravel of the movable die member 22.

Formed in the sides 21 and 28 of the die parts 22 and 2t respectivelyare longitudinally extending registerable grooves generally designatedby the numerals 29 and III in Fig. 2. The grooves 29 and 30 are boundedby opposed faces which have a combined profile that correspondssubstantially to the contour and dimensions of the longitudinaldiametric cross section desired in. a finished projectile 3| such, forexample, as that shown in Fig. 3. The projectile illustrated in Fig.

3 comprises a substantially cylindrical body 32,

an ojive 33 and a base extremity 34. The opposed side faces bounding thegrooves of the die members 2| and 22 each comprise relatively fiatsurface portions 35 which are adapted to contact the body 32 of aprojectile blank. The remaining lateral surface portions of the facesbounding 5 the grooves 29 and so each comprise converging arcuatelyconcaved surface portions 38 for engaging the ojive 33 of a bulletblank. Provided at the lower extremity of the flat surface portions 35of the faces bounding the grooves 29 and 30 5o be understood thatvarious changes in the size the ojives of the projectiles are brought toan exceedingly smoothed and polished condition by reason of the combinedrotative and slipping action to which they are subjected while incontact with the operative faces of the die members.

The foregoing finishing apparatus and method is especially suitable forthe finishing and sizing of projectiles formed by compressing a mass ofthoroughly mixed together, finely divided particles comprising, forexample:

t 1 Parts by weight Powdered copper 90 Powdered tin 10 Stearic acidBoric acid Graphite 1 The above mixture may be compressed to a desiredprojectile shape in a suitable die and then removed from the die andsintered in a nonoxidizing or reducing atmosphere at a temperature offrom substantially 1500".F. to 1550 F.

After the sintering operation, the resulting projectile blank may beimpregnated with liquid lubricant by immersing it while hot in an oilbath.

This lubricant impregnating step may either preshape and arrangement ofparts maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for sizing and surface finishing a projectile having anojive, a substantially cylindrical base portion and a flat extremityopposite said ojive including a pair of die members having complementarylongitudinally extending surface portions corresponding to the contourof and engageable with said olive, base and extremity of said projectilerespectively, each of said die members having surface portionscontacting with said base and constituting the only surface of said diesdirectly opposing movement of said projectile under the axial thrustapplied thereon by compression of said ojive portion means forsupporting said die members for relative movement longitudinally of saidsurfaces from a location beyond one end of one die to a location beyondthe opposite end of the latter die, said die mem- 10 bers being soconstructed and arranged as to accommodate insertion of an over-sizedprojectile therebetween when in one end to end relation and to bringsaid over-sized projectile to desired dimensions when in an opposite endto end rela- 15 tion, and means for moving said die members between saidpositions for rolling peripheral portions of said projectiletherebetween and forcefully rubbing the extremity of said projectile onthe surfaces of said dies with which it is engaged. 20

2. Apparatus for finishing and sizing a projectile including a framestructure, a slide block shiftably mounted on said frame structure, adie fixed on said frame structure having a side extending along the pathof movement of said slide 25 block, a die mounted on said slide blockhaving a side facing said side of said first mentioned slide block andmovable with said slide block from a position entirely beyond oneextremity of said fixed die to a position entirely beyond the 30 otherextremity of the latter die, said facing sides of said dies beingprovided with longitudinally.

extending registerable grooves having a combined cross sectioncorresponding to the diametric cross-section of said projectile,meansfor recipro- 85 eating said slide block to move the die mountedthereon from a position beyond one end of the fixed die to a positionbeyond the opposite end thereof, mechanism operable in timedrelationship with respect to movement of said block and 4 v the diethereon for automatically feedinga projectile to-be finished between thesinfaces of said grooves each-time said movable die is in one of saidlimiting positions. and means adjacent the other limiting position ofsaid movable die for receiving said projectile each time said movabledie is brought to its opposite limiting position.

ANTHONY J. LANGHAmlIER.

Dec. 24, 1940. A. J. LEVENHAGEN SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM AND FRICTIONCONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 30, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 lawn/N

